NR 13-017: Old Hickory Lake opens its doors to tours of Old Hickory Lock, Dam

Published May 15, 2013

OLD HICKORY, Tenn. (May 15, 2013) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Old Hickory Lake is offering free guided public tours of the Old Hickory Lake’s Navigation Lock and Powerhouse 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday May 25, June 29, July 20, Aug. 10 and Aug. 25.  The tours are approximately one hour in length.

Tour size is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  All guests including minors are required to submit a request form at least five business days prior to the tour and receive confirmation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District.

Old Hickory Lake Resource Manager Crystal Tingle said the 2012 public tours were a great success, but were limited by construction projects in and around Old Hickory Powerhouse and Dam.  “This year, we are extending the tour to include the powerhouse facility. Participants can now view the generator units that supply enough power for an estimated 20,000 homes annually,” said Tingle. 

Registered tour participants that have received an email confirmation will be required to check in at the parking lot located on the side of the dam adjacent to the lock in Old Hickory, Tenn. approximately 15 minutes prior to the designated tour time where they will receive a brief introduction prior to beginning the tour. 

To request a tour registration form and to learn more about the tours’ rules and details, please call the Old Hickory Lake Resource Manager’s Office at (615) 822-4846, or visit the Old Hickory Lake website at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/Locations/Lakes/OldHickoryLake/OpenHouseTours. Applications can only be accepted within a 30 day window prior to the actual tour date.

The Old Hickory Navigation Lock is located at 1188 Cinder Road, Old Hickory, TN  37138.  The Resource Manager’s Office is located at 5 Power Plant Road, Hendersonville, TN 37075.

Please note an increase in threat conditions or scheduled maintenance to the powerhouse and/or lock may result in an approved tour being modified to only allow limited access or cancelled with little advance notice. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.

For more information, please contact Park Ranger Amy Redmond at (615) 822-4846 or (615) 847-2395.

The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Old Hickory Lake on the Lake’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil/Locations/Lakes/OldHickoryLake, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/oldhickorylake.
Contact
Bill Peoples
615-736-7161
william.l.peoples@usace.army.mil
or
Lee Roberts
615-736-7161
leon.a.roberts@usace.army.mil

Release no. 13-017